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"Ugh," I said, putting my hand to my forehead. "So close."
"Did you see anything?" Adrian asked.
"Nothing that'll help."
I stood and felt a little dizzy but managed to stay upright. I could see Adrian ready and waiting to catch me in case I did indeed keel over. "You okay?"
"I think so. Just a little light-headed from the blood sugar drop." I slowly gathered up the mirror and bag. "I should've had you get orange juice too."
"Maybe this'll help." Adrian produced a silver flask from his suit jacket's inner pocket and handed it toward me.
So typical, Adrian helpfully offering alcohol. "You know I don't drink," I said.
"A few sips won't get you drunk, Sage. And it's your lucky night - it's Kahlua. Packed with sugar and coffee-flavored. Trade me and try."
Grudgingly, I handed him the bag and then took the flask as we began walking back to the hotel. I took a tentative sip and grimaced. "That is not coffee-flavored." No matter how much people tried to dress up alcohol, it always tasted awful to me. I didn't understand how he could consume so much. But, I could taste the sugar, and after a few more sips, I felt steadier. That was all I drank since I didn't want to get dizzy for different reasons.
"What'd you see?" asked Adrian, once we reached the parking lot.
I described the spell's scene and sighed in frustration. "That could be any building in California. Or the Southwest. Or Mexico."
Adrian came to a halt and slung the bag over one shoulder. "Maybe. . . ." He took out his phone from his jacket and typed in a few things. I shivered and tried to be patient as he searched for what he needed. "Did it look like this?"
I peered at the screen and felt my jaw drop. I was looking at a picture of the building from my vision.
"Yes! What is it?"
"The Old Mission Santa Barbara." And then, just in case I needed help, he added, "It's in Santa Barbara."
"How did you know that?" I exclaimed. "What that building is, I mean."
He shrugged. "Because I've been to Santa Barbara. Does this help you?"
My earlier dismay transformed into excitement. "Yes! Based on the window's position, I can get a pretty good idea of where the apartment is. You may have found Marcus Finch." Caught up in my elation, I squeezed his arm.
Adrian rested a gloved hand on my cheek and smiled down at me. "And to think, Angeline said I was too pretty to be useful. Looks like I might have something to offer to the world after all."
"You're still pretty," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. Another of those intense moments hung between us, the moonlight illuminating his striking features. Then it was shattered by a voice in the darkness.
"Who's there?"
Both of us flinched and jerked back as a black-and-white-clad figure seemed to materialize out of the shadows. A guardian. It was no one I knew, but I realized I'd been foolish if I thought we could slip in and out of the hotel unseen. The grounds were probably crawling with guardians, keeping watch for Strigoi. They wouldn't have cared much about two people leaving, but our return would naturally be challenged.
"Hey, Pete," said Adrian, putting on that easygoing smile he excelled at. "Nice to see you. Hope you're not too cold out here."
The guardian seemed to relax a little upon recognizing Adrian, but he was still suspicious. "What are you two doing outside?"
"Just walking Miss Sage back," said Adrian. "She had to get something from her room."
I gave him a puzzled look. The inn wasn't in this direction. Pete looked dazed for a moment. Then he nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, you'd better get back inside before you freeze."
"Thanks," said Adrian, steering me away. "Make sure you get a break and try the canapes. They're amazing."
"You compelled him," I whispered, once we were safely out of earshot.
"Only a little," said Adrian. He sounded very proud of himself. "And being outside to walk you is a valid reason, one he won't think too much about later. Compelling someone into believing a story works best if there's a little truth - "
"Adrian? Sydney?"
We'd almost reached the back of the building now and were suddenly face-to-face with an ivory-clad figure. Sonya stood before us, a fur stole wrapped around her. Once again, I was struck by her beauty and the happy glow she seemed to radiate. She gave us a puzzled smile.
"What are you two doing out here?" she asked.
Both of us were speechless. Adrian had no brash words or tricks. Sonya was a spirit user too, and compulsion wouldn't work on her. Frantically, I groped for some excuse that wasn't: We were out using illicit magic in a continuing effort to uncover secrets the Alchemists don't want me to know about.
"You can't tell," I blurted out to her. I held up the flask. "Adrian was letting me sneak some of his Kahlua. Stanton'll kill me if she finds out."
Sonya looked understandably startled. "I didn't think you drank."
"Tonight's been kind of stressful," I said. It was hardly a lie.
"And it's coffee-flavored," Adrian pointed out, as though that might aid our cause.
I wasn't sure if Sonya was buying it, so I attempted a change in subject. "Congratulations, by the way. I didn't have a chance to talk to you earlier. You look beautiful."
Sonya let go of her inquisitiveness and offered me a smile. "Thank you. It's kind of unreal. Mikhail and I have been through so much . . . there were times I never thought we'd reach this moment. And now . . ." She glanced down at the diamond sparkling on her hand. "Well, here we are."
"What are you doing out here, Mrs. Tanner?" Adrian had recovered himself and was back to his outgoing self. "Shouldn't you be inside gazing adoringly at your husband?"
She chuckled. "Oh, we've got a lifetime of that ahead. Honestly, I just needed to get out of the crowd." Sonya took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air. "I should probably get back soon. We're about to throw the bouquet. You aren't going to miss your chance, are you?" That was to me.
I scoffed. "I think I'll sit this one out. I've already caused too much speculation tonight."
"Ah, yes. Your infamous dance." Sonya glanced between us, and a bit of her earlier puzzlement returned. "You two look very good together." Awkward silence fell for a few seconds, and then she cleared her throat. "Well, I'm getting in where it's warm. Hope you'll change your mind, Sydney."
